Here’s what you need to know on March 22, 2021

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DETROIT – The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 624,811 since Saturday, including 15,897 deaths, state officials report.

Saturday’s update includes a total of 2,660 new cases and 47 additional deaths – including 39 deaths identified during a review of records, meaning they didn’t occur between Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday, the state reported a total of 562,775 cases of recovery from the virus.

The state will no longer provide updates on coronavirus data on Sunday; the next update is expected on Monday afternoon.

NEW: Michigan: All adults are eligible for the COVID vaccine on April 5

Testing has been steady at around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported on average per day, with a 7-day positive rate above 6% as of Thursday. The state has reported a slight increase in hospital admissions in the past three weeks.

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Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 2,482 Saturday – the highest since mid-January. The death average over seven days was Saturday 20 and has been flat for several weeks. The state’s death rate is 2.6%. The state is also reporting “active cases,” which were recorded at 46,100 on Saturday – nearly the lowest since October.

Michigan has more than reported 3.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of Wednesday, with 27.1% of residents having received at least one dose.

According to Johns Hopkins University more than 29.7 million cases have been reported in the US., with more than 541,200 dead reported by the virus.

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Worldwide more than 122.4 million people are infected and more than 2.7 million have diedMore than 69 million have been recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are certainly much higher, due to limited testing, different ways nations count the dead, and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info about stages

Headlines about the coronavirus:

VISION: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

VISION: Tracking cases of coronavirus outbreaks in Michigan schools

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The state of Michigan announced Friday that all residents 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5, nearly a month before the May 1 date pledged by President Joe Biden.

People aged 16 to 49 with certain medical conditions or disabilities qualifies from March 22, when 50 to 64 year olds can take photos under a previous announcement. Two days later, on March 24, a federally selected regional mass vaccination site opens at Ford Field in Detroit to administer an additional 6,000 doses per day for two months.

Read more here.

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LAKE: Michigan’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule: Who Is Eligible and When

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the first case of COVID-19 variant B.1.351 has been diagnosed in a child in Jackson County.

The health department has not said how the boy was infected, but a case study is being conducted to establish close contacts and whether any further cases are related.

This new variant was originally discovered in South Africa in October 2020 and shares some mutations with the B117 variant. The first case of the B117 variant – originally discovered in the United Kingdom – was identified in Washtenaw County.

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The state of Michigan is expanding Covid-19 vaccine plan to include residents 50 and older, Local 4 has learned.

This week

Beginning Monday, March 8, Michigan residents 50 and older with pre-existing medical conditions or disabilities are eligible to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.

Family members and guardians of caregivers caring for children with special care needs are also eligible for the vaccine starting Monday.

“The more people we can get the safe and effective vaccine, the sooner we can return to a sense of normalcy,” Whitmer said. “I urge all eligible Michiganders to get one of three COVID-19 vaccines to protect you, your family and your community.”

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Later this month

On March 22, all Michiganders aged 50 and older will be eligible, Local 4 learned.

According to the state, more than 40% of Michiganders aged 65 and older have been vaccinated.

“More than 2.3 million doses of the safe and effective COVID vaccines have been administered in Michigan, and we know more vaccines are entering the state,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief health delegate at MDHHS“We are delighted to be able to increase the number of people eligible for vaccination as we continue to focus on our most vulnerable and those at greatest risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”

The state of Michigan has its COVID-19 restrictions on bars and restaurants, including the capacity limit and curfew.

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On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that indoor dining restrictions have been revised.

Starting Friday, March 5, Michigan restaurants and bars are allowed to be 50 percent full, with a maximum of 100 people, according to the state.

“I am proud that we can take this positive step without endangering public health,” said Whitmer.

Since February 1, the capacity for restaurants has been capped at 25%. From mid-November to the end of January, indoor dining was not allowed in bars or restaurants.

The number of confirmed cases of a more contagious COVID-19 variant in Michigan has increased by more than 100 this week, suggesting “undetected spread” in the community.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the state has confirmed 422 cases of the COVID-19 B117 variant.

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That number is up from 314 cases identified six days earlier (Feb. 24).

Through a partnership with SMART, Macomb County is offering a new vaccination site in Sterling Heights.

The vaccination site is located at the Sterling Heights Senior Center on Utica Road, between Schoenherr and Van Dyke Road.

Appointments are required. Eligible residents and employees can call the SMART Macomb Vaccine line at 586-421-6579.

Wayne County has announced that it will open several vaccination clinics for residents 65 and older.

According to County Executive Warren Evans, vaccination clinics will begin on Feb. 23.

“I am pleased that Wayne County is now able to vaccinate seniors,” said Evans. “I know everyone is eager to get back to normal safely. Our team is working hard to ensure that all our residents can get their COVID injection as soon as the vaccine is available. “

There are no running appointments and seniors must make an appointment by calling the site number in their community.

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The full list of clinics and how to register can be found here.

Michigan COVID-19 Cases Reported Daily Since March 1:

  • March 1 – 785 new cases

  • March 2 – 1,067 new cases

  • March 3 – 1,536 new cases

  • March 4 – 1,526 new cases

  • March 5 – 1,486 new cases

  • March 6 – 1,289 new cases

  • March 7 – 980 new cases

  • March 8 – 980 new cases

  • March 9 – 954 new cases

  • March 10 – 2,316 new cases

  • March 11 – 2,091 new cases

  • March 12 – 2,403 new cases

  • March 13 – 1,659 new cases

  • March 14 – 1,571 new cases

  • March 15 – 1,572 new cases

  • March 16 – 2,048 new cases

  • March 17 – 3,164 new cases

  • March 18 – 2,629 new cases

  • March 19 – 3,730 new cases

  • March 20 – 2,660 new cases

Michigan COVID-19 reported deaths daily since March 1:

  • March 1 – 6 new deaths

  • March 2 – 24 new deaths (12 from vital records)

  • March 3 – 5 new deaths

  • March 4 – 37 new deaths (29 from vital signs)

  • March 5 – 10 new deaths

  • March 6 – 56 new deaths (48 from vital signs)

  • March 7 – 2 new deaths

  • March 8 – 2 new deaths

  • March 9 – 29 new deaths (8 from vital records)

  • March 10 – 8 new deaths

  • March 11 – 23 new deaths (16 from vital records)

  • March 12 – 8 new deaths

  • March 13 – 38 new deaths (30 from vital records)

  • March 14 – 4 new deaths

  • March 15 – 5 new deaths

  • March 16 – 27 new deaths (6 from vital records)

  • March 17 – 0 new deaths

  • March 18 – 25 new deaths (24 from vital records)

  • March 19 – 15 new deaths

  • March 20 – 47 new deaths – (39 from vital signs)

Coronavirus Sources:

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